Category: Training & Education
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RDO Equipment Co. and Montana State University Team Up to Bring Real-World Machine Control Training to Civil Engineering Students
Montana State University (MSU) has partnered with RDO Equipment Co. to launch a hands-on training program that gives civil engineering students practical exposure to the latest surveying and machine control technology used on today’s construction sites. The four-week course module introduces students to Topcon Positioning Systems and SmartGrade machine control systems through real jobsite experiences,…
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Rising Tariffs and Labor Shortages Drive Demand for Faster Project Delivery with AWP
The latest round of tariffs from the Trump administration is driving construction input costs up 41% since February 2020, impacting materials like steel, copper, and aluminum. Even domestic projects are feeling the pinch, as supplier pricing reacts to broader market uncertainty. At the same time, workforce shortages are worsening — with 91% of contractors reporting…
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Rising Tariffs and Labor Shortages Drive Demand for Faster Project Delivery with AWP
The latest round of tariffs from the Trump administration is driving construction input costs up 41% since February 2020, impacting materials like steel, copper, and aluminum. Even domestic projects are feeling the pinch, as supplier pricing reacts to broader market uncertainty. At the same time, workforce shortages are worsening — with 91% of contractors reporting…
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4 Common Forecasting Mistakes Construction Companies Should Avoid
Few industries are so sensitive to the whims of the economy as construction. Supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation and regulation have left many businesses feeling as though they just can’t keep up. How can anyone make meaningful, actionable projections when every month brings a new and unforeseen change? The answer is that a good…
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The Trend Toward Bright-Line Protections: Recent Legislative Updates to Prompt Payment Laws Across the Country
Prompt payment statutes have long served as the backbone of financial fairness and predictability in the construction industry. Designed to ensure that those who perform work and furnish materials are paid timely, these statutes help maintain cash flow stability across all tiers of a project. In recent years, state legislatures across the country have taken…
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The Intrapreneur’s Guide to Building a U.S. Subsidiary from the Ground Up
Intrapreneurship — the art of harnessing entrepreneurial energy within an existing organization — takes many forms. It can be implemented at the department level, where a new department or team explores innovative approaches in operations, marketing, IT, etc. It can happen at the division level, where a new product, service or line of business is…
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How Metal is Shaping Resilient Building Design in a Climate of Crisis
As wildfires rage across the American West, hurricanes intensify in the Southeast, and insurance markets tighten nationwide, the demand for fire-resilient, climate-ready buildings is no longer theoretical — it’s urgent. What was once seen as rare or exceptional is now becoming the new norm, both in the U.S. and globally. In the metal construction sector,…
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10 Essential Sealcoating Strategies | For Construction Pros
Sealcoating is a significant part of our industry, whether directly or indirectly. Most of us deal with it in some capacity — and for many, it’s a substantial part of their business. This prompted me to reflect on various strategies and lessons learned over the years to optimize sealcoating jobs. When considering this topic, I…
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Prioritizing Mental Health Over Branding
When I came into the asphalt industry, mid-way through 2022, one of the first calls I took was with the man who people told me was an “asphalt influencer,” and since I was so new I wanted to make sure I connected with him as soon as I could. I remember not really knowing what…
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Troublemaker to CEO: Championing a Career in Construction
If you’d told me as a child that I would one day become the president and CEO of a national skilled trade education group, I would have never believed you. Not because I lacked ambition, but because I was headed down the wrong path. I was a classic troublemaker—smart but rebellious, always testing boundaries. Then,…